Civis was founded by a team from Obama 2012 and is helping companies, non-profits, and campaigns leverage their data. Apply state-of-the-art statistical methods and develop entirely new methods to use our data in new ways.

Our Company is a Chicago-based Big Data analytics firm born in a large windowless back room of President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. We called it "The Cave."

Beginning with the campaign, our mission as a team has been clear: help great organizations use their Big Data to solve their biggest problems. We are now applying our analytical expertise, specialized software, and innovative technological approach to help companies, non-profits, and campaigns leverage their data to develop smarter strategies, make better decisions, and build stronger, data-driven organizations. In the year since our company's founding, we have helped solve problems as diverse as enrolling individuals for health insurance, optimizing TV ad purchases to reach more targets, and pinpointing individuals who want to sign up for a clean energy utility company.

We are not a group of spreadsheet management consultants; we are an inventive team of the best statisticians, scientists, engineers, and technologists in our fields building things that have never been built before. And we're looking to add to our team.

Why should you join our team?

We are already solving some of the world's most demanding and complex problems with Big Data - working with organizations to analyze and understand their individual level intelligence to improve outcomes and implement organizational change. We work on teams with diverse skill sets to apply and invent new data science techniques, putting us at the forefront of innovation in our field as we solve problems that have never been solved before.

We are smart, fun, and a little bit weird. Does this sound like you?

Position Overview

The Research and Development team is responsible for developing the fundamental data science methods, techniques, and best practices that power the mission of our company. Our diverse work includes predictive analytics, algorithm development, experimental design, visualization, and survey research. As a Data Scientist on our Chicago-based Research and Development team, you will work closely and collaboratively with analysts and engineers to develop and operationalize the techniques that quantify and solve big, meaningful problems. Our team dives deeply into big problems and works in a variety of areas.

With a specialization in statistics, this Data Scientist role will apply state-of-the-art statistical methods to our research as well as develop entirely new methods to use our data in new ways. In this role, you will be a critical voice on determining which statistical approaches are appropriate for which problems - whether in the areas of modeling, analysis, survey methodology, or experiment design. The new methodological approaches you develop will be incorporated into Civis' core products and put in the hands of our clients to solve real business problems. Then we learn from their usage and continually improve.

We are looking for individuals from a diversity of backgrounds with demonstrated quantitative and problem-solving skills. We value creativity, hard work, and on-the-job-excellence and offer competitive compensation and benefits packages. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in a statistics, machine learning, physics, computer science, or a Bachelor's degree and outstanding work experience

Comprehensive knowledge of modern statistical learning methods

Experience using applied statistics or machine learning in a professional or other intensive problem-solving environment with large, complex datasets

Expertise in statistical packages such as R or the Python scientific stack (NumPy, SciPy, scikit-learn, pandas)

Experience programming in a Linux environment

Experience identifying and correcting for problems in imperfect data

An ability and eagerness to constantly learn and teach others

Preferred Qualifications

PhD in microeconomics, econometrics, statistics, physics, or a comparable subject. ABD with outstanding work or publication record may be considered.

Demonstrated research excellence through working papers or publications.

Ability to expand upon modern statistical learning methods

Significant work experience in statistical modeling or machine learning

Experience with survey methodology

High proficiency in programming with Python, Ruby, Java, or similar languages